Single manipulative pressure adjuster and auxiliary release for wringers



March 18, 1952 N. ETTEN SINGLE MANIPULATIVE PRESSURE ADJUSTER AND AUXILIARY RELEASE FOR WRINGERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 23, 1945 INVENTOR. M'c/zolas l. ZZZm wi e/2Z March 18, 1952 N. L. ETTEN SINGLE MANIPULATIVE PRESSURE ADJUSTER AND AUXILIARY RELEASE FOR WRINGERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 25, 1945 IIIL March 18, 1952 N. L. ETTEN SINGLE MANIPULATIVE PRESSURE ADJUSTER AND AUXILIARY RELEASE FOR WRINGERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 25, 1945 INVENTOR. jVac/zoZas L. fi 'fe/z March 18, 1952 N. ETTEN SINGLE MANIPULATIVE PRESSURE ADJUSTER AND AUXILIARY RELEASE FOR WRINGERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 23, 1945 v INVENTOR JVZ'c/zoZczs Z. ZZZ/(67L March 18, 1952 N. L. ETTEN SINGLE MANIPULATIVE PRESSURE ADJUSTER AND AUXILIARY RELEASE FOR WRINGERS Filed Nov. 23, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

March 18, 1952 N T E 2,589,353

SINGLE MANIPULAT'IVE' PRESSURE ADJUSTER AND AUXILIARY RELEASE FOR WRINGERS Filed Nov. 23, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 R "k v 1 INVENTOR.

3 JVZchoZczs Z. me/z -BY WM Patented Mar. 18, 1952 SINGLE MANIPULATIVE PRESSURE AD- JUSTER AND AUXILIARY RELEASE FOR WRINGERS Nicholas L. Etten, Waterloo, Iowa, assignor to Chamberlain Corporation, Waterloo, Iowa, a

corporation of Iowa Application November 23, 1945, Serial No. 630,176

18 Claims. 1

This invention is directed to domestic washing machine wringers and relates more specifically to a wringer of this type designed for economy through its simplicity by a novel arrangement of the mechanism employed to produce the normal squeezing action of the rolls together with manual release means for quick separation of such rolls in the event of an accident, or when-- ever desired. The wringer has been produced with a minimum number of operating parts providing a substantial light weight structure capable of efiiciently carrying out the wringer operation in every respect and with greater care than comparable wringers now on the market.

One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide a single spring unit mounted on the outboard end of the wringer frame and in a location providing plenty of clearance and freedom. of movement, such spring unit being suitably connected for urging one of the wringer rolls into operative wringing contact with the other wringer roll. By using a single spring as described, it has been a purpose to eliminate such spring mechanisms from the end of the wringer which is connected to the wringer post thereby permitting a wide freedom of selection and use of brackets or similar units for connecting the wringer frame to its post structure or gear box in any desirable fashion. Furthermore, the use of a single spring also provides a greater freedom of choice in the manner of providing driving connections to the wringer rolls inasmuch as the drive shaft or driving means may then be designed with utmost efficiency and simplicity without providing complicated detours and clearances for accommodating a spring structure adjacent the drive end of the wringer.

Together with the above mentioned object, it is a further advantage in a wringer of the present construction to incorporate simple link and shaft mechanisms which connect with one of the rolls to move the same vertically in parallel relation to the other of said rolls and to provide a single spring means for connection with one end of such link mechanism to actuate said wringer roll in parallel relation with the link means functioning to transmit the pressure of such spring to both ends of the roll thereby uniformly distributing the energy of such spring throughlatch means to release the pressure of the spring means from the wringer roll acted upon by the latter. In this manner, the rolls can be separated by manual contact with either one of the rods on either side of the wringer, such framework being arranged to act in its named capacity whether such rods are pushed or pulled similar to the manual release mechanism shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 610,236 filed August 11, 1945. In the construction of the present wringer, however, the rockable release frame is provided with cam means for coacting with the latch mechanism to release the spring means and establish a separation of the wringer rolls.

A further object of the present wringer is to provide a reset mechanism providing a reset lever which is normally entirely confined within the wringer structure having no protruding parts with the exception of a hand pad or head to operate the same. This head or pad is normally nested adjacent the body of the wringer and is entirely adsorbed in the contour of the wringer structure and relatively unnoticeable inasmuch as the same is shaped to form a continuation of the wringer housing or the contour of the latter. Furthermore, the reset lever remains substantially inactive during the release of the spring means to separate the wringer rolls, and as such the reset lever does not spring out of the wringer to produce a flying part such as is the case with most of the exposed reset mechanisms on present-day wringers. Therefore, the lever of the present construction will not in any way produce an injury to the user under release conditions and is only brought out of the wringer contour for purposes of resetting the wringer mechanism to again tension the wringer rolls.

All other objects and advantages shall hereinafter appear in the following detailed description having reference to the disclosures in the drawings presented herewith for the purpose of supplying a typical arrangement of the novel units and elements and their combinations which form the basis of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a general side elevational view of the wringer of the present invention illustrating substantially how the same will appear as a finished product;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the wringer frame and associated mechanisms shown independently of the wringer housing or shroud to clearly illustrate the variousdet-ails of construetion;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the wringer frame and mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the wringer structure illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 as seen from the left-hand end of such figures, this being the outboard end of the wringer;

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the wringer structure as seen from the right-hand end in Figs. 2 and 3, this being the bracket end which attaches to the wringer post structure;

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of the wringer as shown in Fig. 4 with the mechanisms thereof substantially in the positions they occupy immediately upon release of the spring means;

Fig. '7 is another end elevational view of the wringer as in Fig. 6 showing the manner in which the reset mechanism operates to again reestablish the tensioning means for the wringer rolls;

Fig. 8 is a detailed sectional view of the spring mechanism employed at the outboard end of the wringer illustrating the details of construction thereof; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of the outboard end of the wringer showing a modified arrangement of reset mechanism.

Fig. 1 shows the general arrangement of wringer provided with a housing or shroud I, drainboard facilities 2, a conventional wringer drive shaft 3 entering the wringer unit, the shroud being constructed to expose the wringer rolls 4 and 5 substantially as shown. The manual release mechanism is in the form of a rock frame having parallel rods 6 and I mounted to flank the upper roll 4 of the wringer, the rod 6 being shown in Fig. 1 and rod 1 on the far side is illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. A hand grip or reset head 8 is nested on top of the outboard end of the wringer and forms part of the general contour of the wringer shroud and connected mechanisms, such head 8 being connected with a suitable reset lever 9 better illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, all of which show the main wringer mechanism exclusive of any housing or shroud, it is seen that the main wringer frame comprises the end plates I and H connected to longitudinal tubes l2 and I3, such frame being connected to the wringer post or gear box mechanism by means of a suitable bracket 14 secured to the end plate I Housings in the form of vertically disposed channel units I and I6 are oppositely related and secured to the end plates ID and H to provide guideways for the vertically movable roll bearing brackets i? and Brackets l1 and I8 support the bearing blocks I9 and for rotatably supporting the ends of the shaft 2| of the upper roll 4. The bearing brackets l1 and I8 extend downwardly through the channel guide units l5 and I6 and are connected by means of pins 22 and 23 with arms 24 and 25, respectively, such arms being connected by a supporting shaft 25 rotatably operating within the tube |2 of the wringer frame structure. Thus, shaft 26 and the two arms 24 and 25 form a rigid U-shaped link mechanism connected by means of the pins 22 and 23 with the bearing brackets I1 and I8, which mechanism is capable of tying up the ends of the shaft 2| of the upper wringer roll 4 to move the entire roll in parallel relation to its coacting roll 5 under the action of the wringer spring means induced by the action of the clothing passing through during the wringing operation.

The spring means for tensioning the wringer 43, respectively. l

rolls through the link mechanism described is best illustrated in Fig. 4. The spring means there shown generally at 21 is connected between the arms '28 and 29 pivotally mounted upon the plate H] by pins 30 and 3|. The link 28 carries a connecting link 32 upon the pivot 33 and arm 24 is provided with an extension 34 that is connected by means of the pivot pin 35 with the connecting link 32.

The spring means indicated at 21 is connected between the pivot pins 35 and. 31 carried at the free swingable ends of the arms 28 and 29, respectively. The exact construction of the spring means is better understood by reference to Fig. 8. The spring per se is there indicated at confined between the spring seat washers 4| and 42, and the latter are connected with the links 43 and 44, respectively, to transmit the expansive force of the spring 40 to the pivot pins 36 and 31 acting to urge the arm 28 in the direction of the arm 29 or in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 4.

This spring force is transmitted through arm 28 and the connecting link 32 directly to the extension 34 on the arm 24 causing the latter to be urged in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 4. This same action is transmitted through the arm 24 and shaft 26 to the arm 25 on the opposite side of the wringer and consequently such action produces a downward pulling force on the bearing brackets I1 and |8 through the instrumentality of the connecting pins 22 and 23 thereby urging the roller 4 into operative wringing contact with the roller 5. It should be noted in Figs. 4 and 5 that the arms 24 and 25 are disposed outwardly with respect to the end plates of the wringer and that suitable slots or openings 45 and 45 are provided in the end plates l0 and II to accommodate the vertical roving of the connecting pins 22 and 23. 7

Referring back to Fig. 4, the arm 29 is in the form of a U-shaped stamping, confining a relatively light torsion spring 4'! between the sides thereof upon the pin 3| which spring normally urges the arm 29 in a clockwise direction for purposes hereinafter described. The free end of the arm 29 has the near side as viewed in Fig. 4 terminated at 48 while the far side adjacent the end plate l9 projects at 49 to provide a latch shaped as shown. A latch arm 59 terminates in a flat nose 5| coacting with the latch 49 on arm 28 for the purpose of maintaining the latter in fixed position during the ordinary operation of the wringer permitting the spring 49 to react through the link mechanism connected with the other end thereof for tensioning the rolls 4 and 5 during the wringer operation. 3

Arm 50 is pivotally connected at 52 with the toggle arm 53 comprising an extended portion of the reset lever 9. Arm 53 is pivotally connected at 54 with the end plate ll! of the wringer. Further reference to Fig. 4 will show that the arm 50 carries a roller 55 pivotally mounted by means of the pin 56 upon the nose end 5| of the arm 59. Pin 56 projects through the end plate H) which is provided with a suitable opening shaped somewhat as shown at 51 to accommodate the movements of the pin 56 and its supported roller 55. It is seen, therefore, that vertical movement of the roller 55 will raise the nose end 5| of the arm 50 out of operative latching engagement with the latch 49 of the lever 29. Under normal conditions of operation, arm 59 will be in the position indicated in Fig. 4 until the release action is carried out.

There are various Ways and means which may be provided for moving the roller 55 vertically as described in the paragraph above. However, it is desirable to use a rockable frame of the kind hereinbefore referred to having the manual release bars 5 and 1' extending along the rolls as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 to accomplish the release. This rock frame constitutes U-shaped frames 6!] and BI, frame 60 having vertical legs 62 and B3 pivotally mounted at 64 and 65 to the end frames I and II. The rock frame 9| is provided with vertical legs 66 and '8'! which are pivotally mounted at 68 and 69 on the end frames 10 and 1!. Also, connecting links Hi and ll are connected by means of the pivot pins l213 and 14-15 with the rock frame structures 60 and BI as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. Thus, a very substantial rock frame unit is created that is made of sufficiently rigid members to prevent distortion when manually operated.

The leg 62 of the rock frame 69 is provided with a cam 16 positioned adjacent the inner wall of the end frame I 0 and in a position to cooperate directly with the roller 55 of the latch arm 50. The cam 16 is a double acting type having oppositely inclined surfaces H and i8 connected by a central dwell 19 for receiving the roller 55 to hold the latter in a predetermined location. The cooperation of the roller 55 when positioned in the dwell section of the cam is as shown in Fig. 4 provides an automatic positioning means for the vertically extending rockable U.-frame units 66 and GI and consequently provides a positioning means for the longitudinal bars 6 and I in a predetermined lateral relation with respect to the upper roll of the wringer where such bars or rods are easily manipulated for manually releasing the wringer spring pres" sure and separating the rolls.

It is seen in Fig. 4 that the toggle arm 53 of the reset lever 9, together with the latch arm 59, provides straight arm mechanism established when the pivots 52 and 54 are in line as in Fig. 4 with the end i in frictional contact with the latch 49 having been moved into this position through the reset lever 9. The toggle arm 53 is also provided with an ear 8!] which engages the upper edge of the latch arm 59 to prevent relative clockwise movement between the lever 9 and arm 50 after these elements are moved into the straight line position they occupy in Fig. 4. This places the hand cap or head 8 of the reset lever 9 into the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 4 nesting this entire lever structure within the wringer framework confines, entirely eliminating any projecting mechanism for resetting the wringer which normally would be in a position to be caught by the clothing of the user or possibly by the clothes being handled through the wringer.

It is seen from Fig. 4, that a very slight vertical movement of the roller 55 will release nose 5! from the latch 49 of the arm 29 to throw the spring mechanism into a position substantially as indicated in Fig. 6 as the rock frame comprising the connected units 50 and GI has been actuated as indicated by arrow Bl in Fig. 6. This action collapses the spring arms 43 and M allowing the spring to expand to relieve all pressure between the rolls and permitting the upper roll to move vertically under the resilient rebound action between the rubber roll and the spring unit.

Resetting of the linkage and the connected spring means into a position so that the nose end Si of the latch arm 50 may be brought into engagement with the latch 49 of the arm 29 for resetting the entire mechanism and to pre-stress the spring All to introduce a normal initial tension urging the roll 4 downwardly against the roll 5, is aided by the torsional spring l"! carried upon the pivot 3| of the spring arm 29. This spring 41 reacts between the end plate in of the frame and one side of the arm 29 and acts to move the arm 29 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 4. The spring 41 is a torsional spring selected merely for the purpose of overcoming the friction of the parts to move the rolls 4 and 5 together as indicated in Fig. 7 at which point the mechanism connected with the roll 4 will assume the position indicated in Fig. 7. At this time the reset lever 9 and latch arm 55 will be in the position occupied in Fig. 4 and it is then possible by means of the flat of the hand to take a hold of the head 8 and by either a pushing or pulling movement, depending upon which side of the wringer the person stands, the reset lever 9 can be moved into the position indicated in Fig. '7, moving the latch arm 50 with the nose end 5| guided by means of the pin 56 riding within the contour of the opening 51 in the plate l0 until such latch arm 50 drops in back of the latch 49 and into the position indicated in Fig. 7 Thereafter, by exerting a forward push in the direction of arrow 82 against the head 3 of the reset lever, the entire mechanism, including the links and the spring unit, will be reset into the position indicated in Fig. 4 with the head 8 of the reset lever 9 again nesting adjacent the wringer shroud and in a position to blend into the general external contour of the wringer as shown in Fig. 1. Obviously, when the parts are in the position-shown in Fig. 4, pins 22 and 23 will move vertically together with the bearing brackets I! and I8 as the upper roll 4 is moved vertically as clothing is fed into the bite of the rolls, such movement of the pins 22 and 23 reacting against the spring 49 through the link connected means described, tensioning the rolls as the same are separated in the normal manner of operation of the wringer.

Fig. 9 of the drawings illustrates a modified arrangement of reset means wherein the lever 9 rests upon a horizontal ledge 83 provided by the spring clip 84 that is secured to the end plate of the wringer frame. The free end of the flat spring 84 is provided with a V-shaped clip 85 which snaps over a ridge 86 formed upon the reset lever 9 to releasably hold such lever in the position shown in Fig. 9. In this construction. a torsion spring 81 is connected to normally urge the toggle arm 53 in a counterclockwise direction tending to throw the lever 9 toward the dotted line position 88 shown. With this construction, it is possible to permit the reset lever 9 to move slowly into the position indicated by the dotted lines 88 under the action of the relatively light torsional spring 81 which is merely of sufiicient strength to move the parts into the position mentioned. This action occurs upon release of the latch units as brought about by the instrumentality of the rockable frames whenever the latter are actuated to cause cam IE to raise roller 55 separating the latch units. At the same time the spring clip Ed is rendered ineffective to hold the lever 9 in the position shown inasmuch as the raising of the arm 59 will lift the toggle arm 53 and lever 9 by means of a lug 90 which is connected with the arm 50 and directly rotates the reset lever 9 out of. engagement and influence of the flat spring clip 84.

In this wringer the drive is effected to the rolls by means of the shaft of the lower roll 5. This particular roll 5 is mounted. for titlable movement relative to the upper roll through the embodiment of mechanism better shown and described in my copending application, Serial No. 630,178 filed of even date herewith to which reference may be had in clarifying the structure indicated in the present wringer but not described here inasmuch as such means does not form a part of this invention.

In general, however, with reference to Fig. 2 the lower roll 5 is connected and mounted for rotation upon the shaft 9| mounted at 92 and 93 in bearings 94 and 95, respectively, that are carried by cross pins 96 and 91 secured to the channel housings I5 and I6, respectively. Shaft 9| has an extended end 98 flattened as at 99 for connection with a drive unit normally located in the wringer gear box and mounted upon the usual wringer post standard.

The connection between the shaft 9| and the tubular core I of the roll is not here shown but is illustrated in the copending application, such connection establishing a drive from the shaft 91 to the tubular core I00 to drive the roll 5 and consequently the roll 5 in carrying out the wringer operation.

Furthermore, the roll 5 is capable of tilting relative to shaft 91 and has suitably constructed vertical guide means 502 and E93 connected for movement relative to the channel guide frames I5 and i6, such guide-bearing structures being best illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. Such bearings Hi2 and H13 are for the purpose of preventing lateral displacement of the roll 5 relative to the roll 4 and merely keep the rolls 4 and 5 aligned for operation in a'common vertical plane bisecting the central portion of the entire wringer structure.

Changes in the exact form, arrangement of parts and combination of elements are contemplated in wringer structures of this type for the purpose of providing equivalent means to carry out the various functions of the mechanisms embodied in the present wringer and constituting the invention herein submitted. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the exact structure disclosed or described excepting insofar as shall be determined by the breadth and scope of the appended claims directed thereto.

What I claim is:

1. In a wringer, a frame including relatively wide fiat end plates, upper and lower rolls between said plates, and means for urging one of said rolls toward the other roll comprising unitary spring means bodily positioned beyond the ends of said rolls and at one end only of said wringer, and rockable link mechanisms at opposite ends of said wringer on the outer faces of said plates connected with the ends respectively of said one roll to move the latter parallel to said other roll, means interconnecting said link mechanisms to synchronize the movements of said mechanisms, and operative means connected between one of said link mechanisms and said spring means to hold said one roll in operative contact with the other of said rolls whereby the same unitary spring means acts on both ends of said one roll, and releasable safety latch means connected with said spring means to maintain the latter means in operative condition until said latch means is manually actuated.

2. In a wringer, upper and lower rolls, and means for urging one of said rolls toward the other roll comprising spring means bodily positioned beyond the ends of said rolls and at one end only of said wringer, and rockable link mechanisms at opposite ends of said wringer connected with the ends respectively of said one roll to move the latter parallel to said other roll, means interconnecting said link mechanisms to synchronize the movements of said mechanisms, and operative means connected between one of said link mechanisms and said spring means to hold said one roll in operative contact with the other of said rolls, and releasable latch means connected with said spring means to maintain the latter means in operative condition until said latch means is manually actuated, said latch means including a reset arm normally disposed entirely within the confines of said wringer and subject to relatively minute movement upon release of said latch means, said arm being adapted for a considerably greater movement into a convenient position to allow resetting of the latch means after release thereof.

3. In a wringer, a main frame including flat end plates, coacting rolls, interconnected link mechanisms mounted on the outer faces of said end plate and connected with the opposite ends respectively of one roll, spring means bodily supported beyond the ends of said rolls and at one end of said frame only and connected with said link mechanisms to urge said one roll into operative wringing contact with the other of said rolls, and releasable latch mechanism connected with said spring means to hold same in operative condition until said latch means is manually actuated comprising a rockable frame with a manually movable arm paralleling the rolls, a latch link to lock said springmeans in operative position, and coacting elements on said rockable frame and said latch link whereby movement of said rockable frame actuates said latch link to release said spring means.

4. In a wringer, a main frame, coacting rolls, link mechanisms mounted on said frame and connected with the opposite ends respectively of one roll, spring means bodily supported beyond the ends of said rolls and at one end of said frame and connected with said link mechanisms to urge said one roll into operative wringing contact with the other of said rolls, and releasable latch mechanism connected with said spring means to hold same in operative conditon until said latch means is manually actuated comprising a rockable frame, a latch link to lock said spring means in operative position, coacting elements on said rockable frame and said latch link whereby movement of said rockable frame actuates said latch link to release said spring means, and a reset lever connected with said latch link to reset said latch means after manual release of the latter, said lever having pivotal connection with said main frame and pivotal connection with said latch link whereby said lever and link provide toggle mechanism adapted for latching said spring means in operative compressed position.

5. In a wringer, a main frame, coacting rolls, link mechanisms mounted on said frame and connected with the opposite ends respectively of one roll, spring means at one end of said frame and connected with said link mechanisms to urge said one roll into operative wringing contact with the other of said rolls, and releasable latch mechanism connected with said spring means to hold same in operative condition until said latch means is manually actuated comprising a rockable frame having portions thereof disposed to extend across said wringer and flanking the wringer rolls in position for manual engagement, and a latch link to lock said sprin means in operative relation, said rock frame having a cam, and said latch link having a roller coacting with said cam whereby manual shifting of said rockable frame actuates said latch link into a position to release said spring means.

6. In a wringer, a main frame, coacting rolls, link mechanisms mounted on said frame and connected with the opposite ends respectively of one roll, spring means at one end of said frame and connected with said link mechanisms to urge said one roll into operative wringing contact with the other of said rolls, and releasable latch mechanism connected with said spring means to hold same in operative condition until said latch means is manually actuated comprising a rockable frame unit having portions thereof disposed to extend across said wringer and flanking the wringer rolls in position for manual engagement, a latch link unit to lock said spring means in operative relation, said rock frame unit having a cam, and said latch link unit having a roller coacting with said cam whereby manual shifting of said rockable frame unit actuates said latch link unit into a position to release said spring means, and a reset lever connected with one of said units in a manner to permit release of said latch means with a relatively minute movement of the reset lever, and said reset lever being manually movable a considerably greater distance to relatch the latch means after manual release of the latter.

7. In a wringer, a main frame, coacting rolls, link mechanisms mounted on said frame and connected with the opposite ends respectively of one roll, spring means at one end of said frame and connected with said link mechanisms to urge said one roll into operative wringing contact with the other of said rolls, and releasable latch mechanism connected with said spring means to hold same in operative condition until said latch means is manually actuated comprising a rockable frame having portions thereof disposed to extend across said wringer and flanking the wringer rolls in position for manual engagement, and a latch link to lock said spring means in operative relation, said rock frame having a double acting cam, and said latch link having a roller coacting with said double acting cam whereby manual shifting of said rockable frame in either direction actuates said latch link into a position to release said spring means.

8. In a wringer, a main frame, coacting rolls, link mechanisms mounted on said frame and connected with the opposite ends respectively of one roll, spring means at one end of said frame and connected with said link mechanisms to urge said one roll into operative wringing contact with the other of said rolls, and releasable latch mechanism connected with said spring means to hold same in operative condition until said latch means is manually actuated comprising a rockable frame having portions thereof disposed to extend across said wringer and flanking the wringer rolls in position for manual engagement, and a latch link to lock said spring means in operative relation, said rock frame having a cam including a dwell recess, and said latch link having a roller coacting with said cam whereby shifting of said rockable frame actuates said latch link to release said spring means, said roller coacting with the cam recess to normally hold said rockable frame in a predetermined upright position with respect to the main frame of said wringer.

9. In a wringer, a frame, wringer rolls, releasable spring means at one end of said frame, and link mechanism connectin said spring means with one of said rolls, said spring means comprising a spring, coacting arms supporting the ends of said spring, one of said arms connecting with said link mechanism, the other of said arms having a latch, and means for locking said latch and its connected arm in a predetermined position to pre-stress said spring means, comprising a toggle link and a latch link and cooperative means carried by one of said links and the frame to position said latch link to hold said latch of the latch arm in locked position.

10. In a wringer, wringer rolls, a frame having end plates, spring means for said rolls mounted adjacent the side of one end plate comprising a single spring, link mechanism connected between one end of said spring and one of the rolls, and latch means connected with the other end of said spring comprising toggle links mounted on said one end plate for movement in a plane parallel thereto, means connected with one of said links and engaging the other link to normally hold said links extended, means coacting between said one end plate and the links to position the links in a predetermined relationship with respect to said spring, and a latch connected with said spring and disposed in abutting position with respect to said positioned links to hold said spring pre-stressed.

11. In a wringer, wringer rolls, a frame having end plates, spring means for said rolls mounted adjacent the side of one end plate comprising a single spring, link mechanism connected between one end, of said spring and one of the rolls, and latch means connected with the other end of said spring comprising toggle links mounted on said one end plate for movement in a plane parallel thereto, means connected with one of said links and engaging the other link to normally hold said links extended, means coacting between said one end plate and the links to position the links in a predetermined relationship with respect to said spring, and a latch connected with said spring and disposed in abutting position with respect to said positioned links to hold said spring pro-stressed, and release means to render said spring inoperative comprising manually operated cam means arranged to operate in a plane adjacent said one end plate, and cam follower means connected with said toggle links to shift the position of the latter to release said latch means.

12. In a wringer, wringer rolls, a frame having end plates, spring means for said rolls mounted adjacent the side of one end plate comprising a single spring, link mechanism connected between one end of said spring and one of the rolls, and. latch means connected with the other end of said spring comprising toggle links mounted on said one end plate for movement in a plane parallel thereto, means connected with one of said links andengaging the other link to normally hold said links extended, mean coacting between said one end plate and the links to position the links in a predetermined relationship with respect to said spring, and a latch connected with said spring and disposed in abutting position with respect to said positioned links to hold said spring pre-stressed, and release means to render said spring inoperative comprisingmanually operated cam means arranged to operate in a plane adjacent said one end plate, and cam follower means connected with said toggle links to shift the position of the latter to release said latch means, and reset means connected with one of said links and movable to a convenient position for manual engagement to move said links into the aforesaid predetermined relationship to again cock said spring and relatch said latch means.

13. In a wringer, a frame having end plates, wringer rolls therebetween, bearing means connected with one of said rolls, means to guide said bearing means vertically relative to said end plates, and spring operated link mechanism positioned outwardly of and mounted on said end plates, and connected with said bearing means to normally urge said one roll into operative wringing contact with the other of said rolls comprising arms pivotally connected with said end plates respectively, means connecting said arms to move same in unison, said arms having their free ends connected with said roll bearing means, and a single spring connected to one of said arms and disposed adjacent the outer side of one of said plates to cause said link mechanism to hold the connected roll against the other of said rolls with the pressure equalized over the entire length of said roll.

. 14. In a wringer, a frame having end plates, wringer rolls therebetween, bearing means connected with one of said rolls, means to guide said bearing means vertically relative to said end plates, and spring operated link mechanism connected with said bearing means to normally urge said one roll into operative wringing contact With the other of said rolls comprising arms pivotally connected with said end plates respectively, means connecting said arms to move same in unison, said arms having their free ends connected with said roll bearing means, a pair of swingable members each pivotally mounted upon one of said end plates, and a single spring connected between said swingable members, one of said members having connection with said link mechanism to transmit spring pressure to said one roll through said mechanism, and releasable latch means to lock the other of said members in fixed position relative to said one end plate to hold one end of said spring, said latch means including reset means, and said other member having resilient return means to normally position said members and said spring in a predetermined inoperative position to be reset by said reset means after manual release of said latch means.

15. In a wringer, a frame having end plates, wringer rolls therebetween, bearing means connected with one of said rolls, mean to guide said bearing means vertically relative to said end plates, and springoperated link mechanism positioned outwardly of and mounted upon said end plates and connected with said bearing means to normally urge said one roll into operative wringing contact with the other of said rolls compris-.

ing arms pivotally connected with said end plates respectively, means connecting said arms to move same in unison, said arms having their free ends connected with ,said roll bearing means, and a spring bodily supported for operation beyond one of said frame end plates and connected with one of said arms of said link mechanism to hold said connected roll against the other of said rolls, and

12 releasable means connected between the end plate adjacent said one arm and said spring to release the latter when said releasable means is actuated.

16. In a wringer, a main frame, coacting rolls in said frame, means at one end of said frame to connect the rolls to a power drive, means for urging one of said rolls toward the other including spring means carried entirely by the opposite end of said frame, releasable latching means to hold said spring means in pressure applying position, and a reset lever pivoted to a part of said latching means at a point remote from the latching engagement whereby said reset lever moves only a minute distance upon release of said latching means.

17. In a wringer, a main frame, coacting rolls in said frame, means at one end of said frame to connect the rolls to a power drive, means for urging one of said rolls toward the other including spring means carried entirely by the opposite end of said frame, releasable latching means to hold said spring means in pressure applying position, said latching means including an elongated arm and a latch element engageable with an end of said arm, and a reset lever having means for engaging a part of said arm at a point remote from said end whereby'release of said latching means will cause only a relatively minute movement of said reset lever.

18. In a wringer, a frame, coacting rolls carried by said frame, pressure applying means to urge one of the rolls toward another, releasable toggle means to hold the first said means in pressure applying position, said toggle means including an elongated arm pivoted at one end and a pivoted latch element engageable with the other end of said arm, and a reset lever positioned to engage a part of said arm to reset the same after release, said engagement being in a location remote from said other end whereby said lever is moved only a relatively minute distance upon the release of said toggle means.

NICHOLAS L. ETTEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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